World powers, Iran to hold nuclear talks in Turkey

ISTANBUL- Foreign ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said the meeting is "essentially technical" in nature. It was scheduled during strained talks in Moscow earlier this month.

That meeting between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group -- permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the US, plus Germany -- failed to make progress on the crisis.

But Iran and the world powers kept dialogue going by agreeing to the additional discussions in Istanbul, which will be held at a lower level between experts.

World powers suspect Iran's nuclear programme has military aims and have demanded Tehran stops enriching uranium. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

Tuesday's discussions will be closed to the press and held in a secret location, Unal said.

Istanbul has hosted two rounds of negotiations in the past.